MXR Phase 45From real comments

Verdict distilled from 35 mentions across 10 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment69%
PROS 69%
CONS 31%

Rank based on 35 mentions across 10 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a subtle, transparent phaser rather than a heavy 'throbbing' effect
  • You play with distortion/overdrive and want a phaser that complements it
  • You appreciate vintage-correct design and don't mind battery-only operation

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need an LED indicator and AC adapter jack for pedalboard convenience
  • You want an aggressive, obvious modulation effect rather than subtlety
  • You're worried about used/vintage unit reliability and pot drift

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

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Natural, amp-like tone
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High-quality warm pitch shifting
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Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
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Needs effects/partner gear to shine
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You are here
31Mid
MXR Phase 45
Subtle, musical phasingBeloved, underrated pedalTwo-stage design preferred by manyNo LED or 9V adapter jack (reissue)Battery-only operationMid-heavy/muffled tone in some setups
MXR Phase 45
Subtle, musical phasing
Beloved, underrated pedal
Two-stage design preferred by many
No LED or 9V adapter jack (reissue)
Battery-only operation
Mid-heavy/muffled tone in some setups

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Its subtlety and transparency are the standout trait. Multiple commenters emphasize that the Phase 45 stays musical and doesn't overwhelm the guitar tone the way some phasers do. It's called 'sexy sounding,' 'almost like a uni, but subtle,' and praised for transparency where you can still hear the guitar underneath the effect. Several say they prefer it over the Phase 90 and 100 specifically because of this restrained character, calling it an often-overlooked pedal that deserves more attention despite being simple.

Lack of LED and AC adapter jack on the vintage reissue draws heavy criticism. A recurring complaint across many comments is that the script reissue omits a power jack and status LED to stay 'vintage correct,' which users call impractical and disappointing for modern pedalboards. Some say they'll wait for or want an adapter version, while others note battery-only operation means carrying spares. A few defenders argue this omission doesn't hurt tone and staying true to the original spec is worthwhile.

It pairs especially well with distortion and overdriven tones. Several users specifically praise combining the Phase 45 with distortion or overdrive, noting it works great for driven leads and rhythm tones, not just clean sounds. Some ask directly whether it sounds good with distortion, and others confirm it does, with one describing it working well with a Matchless amp. This versatility across clean and driven sounds is cited as a key strength.

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